In this short coaching conversation, a prospective athlete (Speaker A) asks why his fall emails to college coaches receive no replies. Coach (Speaker B) explains that despite common belief, 75‑85% of offers still occur in the fall, but Division I schools are pausing recruiting due to a new NCAA rule. The coach then critiques the athlete’s email approach, advising that fall outreach should focus on congratulating coaches on recent wins and expressing interest in attending games, rather than directly asking about the 2025 recruiting class. He outlines a step‑by‑step email structure: start with a genuine congratulatory or good‑luck message, repeat this tone regularly, then later send a showcase schedule and politely request a brief in‑person handshake if the coach can attend. The athlete asks for a recap, prompting the coach to reiterate the recommended email flow.
Hey coach, I've been emailing a bunch of teams this fall and I'm not getting any responses. Is the fall a good time to email teams or not?
Well, while most people think the fall is not a good time to email coaches because it's during the season, I would argue that 75-85% of offers happen during the fall. Now this time around, because of the nature of the new NCAA rule, the Division I schools are going to pause almost all recruiting because they don't really know how the rules are going to affect them. But you should definitely still email them during the fall season.
Okay coach, I understand that, but like How come they're not responding to me then? I keep writing emails and I'm not getting anything.
Well, it depends what you're saying in your emails. For example, if you are saying, hey, are you looking for me for the class of 2025? That's not really the question you want to ask during the fall season. During the fall season, you want to talk about their games, right? There's only games like this once a year for 3 months of the year. So instead, you want to wish them good luck or say congratulations on a certain win, and then you want to say to them, I'm looking to come to one of your games. Now, when you watch this video, it's going to be towards the end of the fall season, so you got to change it one more time.
Okay, Coach, like, what do I change it to then? You're so picky.
So this time what you want to say is congratulations or good luck throughout the email, and you should be doing that kind of regularly without asking any questions. Just like, hey, Coach, congratulations. Hey, Coach, good job on the win. Hey, Coach, I really enjoyed watching this. But then it's going to be soon time to send your showcase schedule. So when you send your showcase schedule, you want to say to them, may I briefly shake your hand in person if you're able to attend? I hope you do very well during your season.
Okay, Coach, like, I understand your tips, but could you, like, lay it out for me, like, one more time?
Yes, I can. So it's gonna read like this towards the end of the fall season. Dear Coach, congratulations on such a great season. I really enjoyed watching XYZ. And if they did not have a great season, do not say that. You have to say something genuine. Then you're going to say, I understand that the season is coming to an end. My showcase schedules are coming around soon. I wanted to see if you were able to attend. May I briefly shake your hand in person? Here's my showcase schedule. And then they will either respond or not respond based off of depending on if they can come, or they'll respond saying, "We cannot shake your hand in person, but we are going to be there and we've made a note of your schedule." If you want more help, comment, call, and we can schedule a call with you and your parents.
